People who are into off0track racing and freestyle know well about BMX bikes. These bikes are the perfect companions for little adventures in the parks and streets. They work well on bumpy and rough surfaces. And the working mechanism of BMX is impressive.
How do BMX bikes work?
BMX bikes work based on their constructional structure. The purpose of designing a BMX bike was jump and dirt racing. Later freestyle came into the scene. It is an off-track vehicle that works because of its light frame, knobby wheels, rotating handlebars, sprinting gears, and other components.
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There are in-wheels in a BMX bike. The number of in-wheels is around 20. This number of wheel varies depending on the nature of the bikes.
They possess a strong frame and handlebars. There is a fork in the bike.
The handlebars are high-rise.
There are brakes or the rear wheel of a BMX bike. But riders can also remove those for better rotation and speed. They can also insert a gyro to keep the braking system.
The tires in a BMX bike have grooves. The grooves give the bike a better grip. They are off-track bikes. So, the longevity of the tires extends with this structure.
The gear in a BMX bike is a single cassette. BMX is sturdy and robust in structure.
How do BMX Brakes work?
According to some popular opinions, BMX does not come with a brake mechanism. But, BMX bikes do have brakes. These bikes have a functional rear brake.
Some riders prefer to ride in streets or parks. These riders sometimes consider removing the brakes of the bike. In that case, they remove it.
BMX bikes have sturdy hand brakes. That is, it is operational as a hand-lever.
BMX bikes need strong power on brakes for powerful stopping. That is why linear-pull brakes are in use for BMX bikes.
Linear pull brakes work as power on or power off brakes. The V-brakes offer an instant stoppage facility to the front wheel of the bike.
The rear brakes on BMX bikes work as a regulating switch for the bikes.
V-brakes are light in weight. They are powerful in terms of braking mechanisms.
The lever connects to the handlebar. When you pull the lever, the housing pulls the cable through it. Then the lever gets a push against the bike rim. That is, brake pads and rims collide. It creates friction between these two parts.
And the bike stops or slows down.
How do BMX Chain Tensioners work?
Chainrings in BMX racing bikes are large in size. Their size helps to increase the acceleration power of the bikes. It also helps in maintaining the speed of the bike.
However, the chainring in BMX freestyle bikes is comparatively smaller in size. It helps the bike to jump and do stunts with it.
Chain tensioners do the work of tightening the chainrings automatically for you. They reduce the loosening of the chain due to hard pedaling.
Chains wear out and stretch due to constant friction. Chain tensioners with spring maintain the tension of the chain automatically.
A chain tensioner works by controlling the tension of the chain. The screw of the tensioner needs to be adjusted. It goes beyond the rear axle.
You have to tighten your rear axle nuts after adjusting the screw in the tensioner. Tensioners protect the wheel from twisting. The chain or wheel does not come off due to this.
No matter what the size of your chainring is, chain tensioners give balance to it.
How do BMX Gyros work?
Gyros are an exclusive addition to BMX bikes. They are also known as detanglers.
They make the BMX bikes versatile. The bikes can be braked at any time without complexity due to the gyro.
Gyros enable the front wheel and handlebar of your bike to rotate freely. They allow 360-degree rotation of the bike’s front part without entangling any cable.
A BMX bike with brakes cannot perform various stunts like bar spins and tail whips. A gyro in a BMX bike ensures the use of a brake along with the stunts.
You can turn your handlebar infinitely without untangling a cable with a gyro.
A gyro or detangler has two separate discs which can spin around each other. They are to attach by a bearing. They are pulled up as one piece.
The gyro system has five parts. They are the upper cable, lower cable, gyro plates, gyro tabs, and the detangler.
The upper cable divides into two parts. One part is slightly longer than the other one to reach the far end of the detangler.
The detanglers sit underneath the gyro plate. These plates are pulled up when the brakes are applied.
The lower cables connect to the tabs. They are pulled up along with the upper cable when the plates are pulled up.
You have to balance the detangler in a gyro brake system. That is, you have to adjust the tension of the barrel adjusters in the tabs and plate.
These parts work in unison and help the bike rotate in any direction.
How do BMX pegs work?
There are different types of BMX bikes. Not all BMX need pegs. Pegs are mainly in use by freestyle BMX users who perform a lot of stunts. The dirt racers and jumpers do not need pegs in their bikes.
BMX pegs are cylindrical-shaped extensions that are attached to the axle of wheels. It is the standing platform for riders when they perform various rotations or movements with their bikes.
Pegs are attached to either both sides or one side of wheel axles. They rub against rails, ledges, etc., while performing stunts. They reduce the friction.
Pegs need to be strong enough to bear the blow of the tricks and stunts performed by bikers.
Pegs are in production with different materials. There are metal as well as plastic pegs.
Chromoly and aluminum are in use for making metal pegs.
Plastic pegs have sleeves of nylon composite. And the core is made of nylon and sometimes aluminum.
The length and diameter of the pegs determine their functionality.
For better grind function, there are long pegs.
For the protection of the axle, there are micro pegs that only cover the axle area. These pegs do not offer grind power while performing air tricks.
There are pegs of 34mm to 39mm in diameters. The diameter depends upon the material in use for the production.
How does a BMX Freecoaster work?
BMX bikes have gears to move forward at great speed. But reverse gears are absent in BMX bikes.
You can pedal the bike backward, while it will not move the bike in that direction.
There is a hub that you can attach to your BMX bike to perform this function of going in the reverse direction. This hub is known as the free coaster.
A freecoaster rolls your bike in reverse without pedaling. It also helps you to cab out at 180-degrees.
This hub has a clutch in it. The clutch can move in two directions- in and out. It moves according to the direction of your pedaling.
Freecoasters are durable and versatile. All the surface area engages when you engage the clutch. Pedal pressure is in use here.
If you are rolling backward and want to do a half-cab by pedaling, it is possible to do that with a freecoaster in your BMX.
Pedal pressure for doing tricks is easier using a freecoaster. It can coast your bike forward and backward. That is, it is designed in this way to work.
Freecoaster hubs do not make a noise when you pedal. They tick while you coast.
How does a BMX Cassette hub work?
The particular part of a BMX bike that connects the wheel-center to its fork is known as a hub. BMX freestyle and racers use cassette hub widely.
BMX cassette hubs have an independent driver. The hub-shell is where the driver fits.
They are light in weight. You can easily install a cassette hub in your BMX bike.
In a freecoaster hub, you do not have to paddle back to move in reverse. But it has to be done when you are using a cassette hub. Pedaling is required to move backward in this mechanism.
There are springs and metal paws in a cassette hub. And it works based on the engagement of these parts.
Cassette hubs are pull-based designs. It ticks away when you pedal forward. Pull-based systems are great for going forward.
When you move forward, the poles in a cassette hub ticks. When you pedal, the wheel moves in the same direction. You have to match the speed of the poles and the wheel.
These hubs always try to engage hard. They do not use pedal pressures for doing tricks and stunts.
How does a BMX Freewheel work?
Freewheel in a BMX is a very traditional and old inclusion. It is rare in use these days. But those who specifically want them for any purpose can install freewheels in their BMX.
Freewheel works like a ratchet. It only creates motion around an axis in one direction.
There are teeth, ratchet, and pawls in a BMX freewheel. Whenever the pawls are running across the teeth of the ratchet, it produces a clacking sound.
The sprocket fitting does not rotate with the cogs when you spin it backward.
The pawls move in one direction. Pawl’s teeth lock into the notches inside the ratchet.
There is a wire spring around the pawl teeth, which allows it to be springy. So, there are pawls, springs, and bearings inside a freewheel. These parts together make the freewheel functional.
By its design, a freewheel works as an auto clutch. It can change gears in an upward or downward direction in a hand-controlled gearbox.
BMX freewheel is less expensive as they wear out comparatively less. They are old models. And they can jam very easily.
BMX bikes are the ultimate ride for people of all ages. One can master the working mechanism of this bike and give it a go anytime. It is simple and requires some practice.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How much does a BMX bike weigh?
How can i make my BMX lighter?